Family Says Man May Have Fallen From Train In Eastern Colorado

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP/CBS4) – The family of a retired California firefighter who disappeared from an Amtrak train says it now appears that he may have fallen from the train somewhere in eastern Colorado or western Nebraska.

“We want to find him alive and bring him home but either way, we want to bring him home,” said Dowd’s daughter Jennifer Dowd.

Charlie Dowd’s family members had been organizing searches in Omaha and Lincoln for the 69-year-old San Mateo man because they believed he may have mistakenly gotten off the train at one of those stops.

But Jennifer Dowd said Tuesday Amtrak police told the family a passenger on the California-to-Chicago train saw Dowd standing near a train door Thursday night. Another passenger later found an exterior door ajar around 11 p.m. Thursday.

“I was trying not to led the dread of the open door and the potential that he had fallen off overtake me and what we’re trying to do,” said Jen Dowd.

The train arrived at its final destination Friday with Dowd’s clothing, medication and cell phone, but not him.

Jennifer Dowd says the search for her father will now focus on the 160 miles of track between Fort Morgan, Colo., and McCook, Neb.

“If he was disoriented he could have fallen and he could be on the tracks somewhere,” said Jennifer Dowd.

(credit: CBS)

In Yuma County, seven deputies covered 40 miles of train tracks on foot but found nothing.

A Facebook page dedicated to the search has more than 2,000 followers, some leaving tips and possible sightings, others offering support while the family continues to look for Dowd, and distributes missing person fliers.